Back in the lab and ready for ’16, but still soaking in all of the experiences at NAMM this year. One of the highlights was meeting and speaking with Dave Pensado of Pensado’s Place, as well as his co-host, Herb Trawick. Herb offered an invite to visit their new facilities in Studio City as well, which was quite an honor. Another amazing moment was meeting Gavin Lurssen of Lurssen Mastering – and through all people, Tom Kenny, editor of Mix Magazine. Tom is not only a brilliant mind in his own right, but also very generous, offering VIP passes to the TEC Awards. Hosted by Sinbad, the night was full of laughs and electricity. A video montage was put together for Chris Stone and Gary Kellgren of The Record Plant as well, who were inducted into the NAMM Hall Of Fame, alongside Jeffrey “Skunk” Baxter of Steely Dan & Doobie Brothers fame.
Jeffrey has had a long and successful career in the music and entertainment field, earning numerous Gold and Platinum albums and two Grammys in the process. He was a founding member of the group Steely Dan, a member of the Doobie Brothers and produced records for such artists as Carl Wilson, Nazareth, The Stray Cats and Billy Vera (debut album and #1 Single “At This Moment”). He has toured with such bands as The Stray Cats, Elton John, Julian Lennon and Linda Ronstadt. He has been a studio musician for over 40 years, recording with such artists as Donna Summer, Dolly Parton, Ringo Starr, Barbara Streisand, Carly Simon, Stanley Clark, Bryan Adams, Joni Mitchell, John Cougar Mellencamp, Roy Orbison, The Ventures, Beach Boys, and Rod Stewart. He has also composed music for movies and television including co-authoring the original theme for “Beverly Hills 90210,” music for “King of the Hill” and scoring for movies like “Bull Durham” and “Roxanne.” He has been a design engineer/consultant for Akai, Audio-Technica, Allen & Heath, Fender and Roland for over 35 years. He is currently working on his first solo project, partnering with his long-time friend and associate CJ Vanston and is still actively involved as a guitarist, composer, producer and engineer.
Chris Stone is an American music industry businessman and writer, and the co-founder with Gary Kellgren of the Record Plant recording studios. The Record Plant transformed the music studio into a new, creative and collaborative environment. While at the same time, introduced the newest multitrack, acoustical and mixing technologies. Stone founded Filmsonix in 1987, sold the Record Plant in 1989, and is the founder and CEO of World Studio Group, a worldwide music studio consulting company. He co-founded the Society of Professional Audio Recording Services (SPARS), and served as president and chairman of the board. He also co-founded the Music Producers Guild of the Americas (MPGA), serving as executive director. The MPGA developed into the Producers & Engineers Wing of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS). He lectured online for the Berklee College of Music as well as in person for the USC Thornton School of Music where he was an associate professor. He published a book, Audio Recording for Profit : The Sound of Money.
Gary Kellgren (1939–1977) was an American audio engineer and co-founder with Chris Stone of the Record Plant recording studios. Kellgren was an early user of “phasing,” a studio technique which simulates the sound of a jet engine. He is also credited with pioneering the “flanger,” the U.S. version of the Beatles’ ATD (automatic tape doubling), also known as ADT (automatic double tracking), for that memorable psychedelic sound. He conceived of, and was responsible for, all the “Live at the Record Plant” recording sessions. It was also Kellgren’s concept to bring color, artistic design, hotel-like comforts and services to the world of recording studios, along with state-of-the-art technology and acoustical design.
Needless to say, this was by far the most amazing experience at NAMM yet, and along with an incredible movement of forward-thinking gear and technology in nearly every facet of audio, VLM couldn’t be more excited about what the future holds in our industry. A big thanks goes out to Scott Pederson at Audionamix as well – you’re definitely major.